Portable mixing mechanism



c. BROWN ETAL. 3,194,639

PORTABLE MIXING MEGHANIsM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 CURT BROWN L YLE B. OLIVER/Nl/ENU/PS HUEBNER 8 WORRE L /4 TTORNE'KS July 13, 1965 Filed May 17,1962 fi llllllivi July 13, 1965 c. BROWN ETAL 3,194,639

PORTABLE MIXING MECHANISM Filed May 17, 1962 s sheets-sheet 2 CURT BROWNLYLE B. OLIVER IN1/ENI' ORS HUEBNER WORRE'L 77URNEKS` Y Q /MM July 13,1965 l C. BROWN ETAL Filed May 17, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m yi. l

lo 3Q cuRT BROWN m LYLE B. OLIVER /NvE/vTo/Ps gq HUEBNER a WOR/PE1.AnoR/vfrs United States Patent O 3,1%,639 PRTABLE G MEQHANESM CurtBrown, 82d E. Lovers Lane, Visaiia, Caiif., and Lyle B. @iii/er, BirchAve., Reedley, Salif. Filed May 17, 1962, Ser. No. llt/F5631 8 Claims.(Cl. 23-285) The present invention relates to a portable mixingmechanism for manufacturing calcium polysulfide for use in soiltreatment and sprays which provides improved dissolution in water of drymaterials employed so as to minimize the development of residue settling`and adherence of such 4residue and dry materials within the mechanism.The present invention provides a mixing tank of the general typedisclosed in my rco-pending applica tion tiled September 12, 1960,entitled Method and Ap-l paratus for Making Aqueous Solutions WithCertain Dry Chemicals, Serial No. 55,243, now abandoned, and constitutesan improve-ment thereover.

As discussed in my coapending application, conventional practices formanufacturing calcium polysuliide for use as soil conditioningfertilizers have been inefficient, expensive, inconvenient and generallyunsatisfactory. Conventionally, :this fertilizing material has been madeby heating water in a large vat to -a temperature of approximately 180F. and then adding dry sulfur and lime with such mixture being agitatedby a sweep or paddle oscillating through the liquid and across thebottom of the vat. After a predetermined time, a certain amount ofthesulfur and lime passes into solution while a portion remains as residue.With such conventional practices, ift is not possible to dissolve morethan about 7i) percent of the sulfur and lime even though quantities areemployed which are within the maximum solubility thereof in water.Inasmuch las a relatively small percentage of the end product Iisobtainable from any one batch, the size of :the vats employed lin suchpractices have in the past prohibited the manufacture of calciumpolysulride in the dield. Furthermore, if the fertilizer remains bottledfor any extended peri-od of time before use, the sulfur and lime tend tocrystallize out of solution causing clogging of dispensing and sprayingmechanisms ernployed in the field.

The mixing tank of the present invention is believed to overcome theabove problems `by providing a portable mixing tank for manufacturingcalcium polysulde in the eld vfor immediate use.

Another object -of the present invention is to provide an improvedportable mixing trank for eiciently and conveniently making liquidcalcium polysulfde.

Another object is to provide such a mixing tank for making liquidcalcium polysuliide by forcing water under pressure into the pores ofthe dry materials employed therein.

Another yobject is to provide a portable mixing tank which minimizes thecost of making and using liquid calcium polysulde.

Another object is to provide a portable mixing tank for manufacturingcalcium polysulde which releases a greater percentage of useful productthan is possible by conventional practices.

Another object is lto provide a :portable mixing tank for making calciumpolysulfide in the eld which is adapted to use irrigation water in .themanufacture thereof `and which is adapted to deliver the completedproduct into irrigation water for distribution to the soil.

Another object is to provide a portable mixing tank which facilitatesthe useful disposition of any residue remaining after the manufacture ofthe liquid calcium polysulfide.

Othe objects and advantages of the :present invention "ice will becomemore fully .apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FG. l is a top plan view of a mixing tank embodying the principles ofthe present invention.

FlG. 2 is a front end elevation of the mixing tank of FIG. 1.

Fi'G. 3 is a transverse vertical 4section of the tank taken on line 3-3of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the tank taken on line 4-4of FIG. l.

PEG. 5 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of thedray material loading conveyor and hopper taken on line 5-5 of FIG. l.

FG. 6 is a transverse vertical 'section through the conveyor `and hoppertaken on line 5 5 of FG. 5.

PEG. 7 is a perspective view of a high pressure mixing tube removed fromthe tank of the preceding figures.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, =a substantiallyrectangular frame 1li is best shown -in FlG. l and 4 and includes aforward end portion il and a rearward end portion l2. An elongated axle14 is extended transversely beneath the frame and is connected theretofor mounting a pair of support wheels 16 at opposite ends 4of the axleoutwardly of the frame. An elongated tongue 17 is rigidly connected tothe axle and extended forwardly from the forward end portion il of theframe, as best shown in FiG. 4.

An elongated semi-cyclindrical auxiliary housing or shell 2li includesan arcuate wall 2l rigidly supported on the frame by a plurality ofupwardly diverging brace members 23. The shell provides -a forward endwall 2S and a substantially open rearward end por-tion 26. The arcuatewall 'and the forward end wall provide an upper inwardly extendingflange 27 in circumscribing relation to Van upper opening for the shell.The arcuate wall and the forward wall fur-ther provide a plurality ofelongated exhaust ports 2S vfor a lreason :soon to be described.

An elongated tank 30 includes a substantially cylindrical side wall 32concentrically circumscribing a longitudinal taxis for the tank, andopposite forward and rearward substantially iiat end walls 33 and 3d,respectively. The tank is supported on the braces 23 and is connected tothe flanges 27 of the shell 2li by means of welding or the like. Thetank thereby provides a substantially semi-cylindrical bottom wal-l 36disposed downwardly within the Ishell in spaced relation to the end andarcuate walls of the shell, and -a substantially semi-cylindrical topwall 37 extended upwardly out of the shell. The lowermost portion of thebottom wall provides an elongated substantially horizontal sedimentcollecting area 33. The bottom wall of the tank and the shell define achamber to therebetween. A burner nozzle 4t2 of any suitable type ismounted on the bottom wall of the tank adjacent to the rearward end 34thereof in longitudinally inwardly extended relation beneath the tank.Gas supply pipes 43 are connected to the burner and extend rearwardlyfrom the tank through the rearward open end 26 of the :shell forconnection to a source, not shown, yof fuel oil or gas, as may bedesired. The burner nozzle 42 thus is adapted to supply heat to thechamber d@ for heating the bottom 4wall and the contents of the tank.

The side wall 32 of the tank 26 provides an upper opening d5 in theupper portion 37 of the tank. A hinged cover i6 is provided forremovably closing this opening. The forward end wall 33 of the tank hasa liquid solvent or water conduit Sil disposed intermediate the upperand lower portions of the tank and bent downwardly to terminato in alower open end 5l adjacent to the side wall 32 and the bottom wall 36 ofthe tank. A drainage duct 52 is connected to the rearward end wall 34 ofthe tank closely adjacent to the bottom wall thereof. A cap 53 isscrewatenerse threadfably received on the outer end of the duct 52 forenabling opening and closing of the duct. An elongated tubular housing55 is mounted in the forward end wall 33 of the tank to extend inwardlytherefrom in upwardly angularly extended relation to provide an inneropen end 56 rigidly mounted on the wall 32 of the tank adjacent to theupper opening 45 therein.

A pump 60 is mounted on the forward end portion 11 of the frame 1li andincludes an inlet conduit il and an outlet conduit 62. A T fitting 63 ismounted in the inlet conduit 61 to provide Connection for a supply anddispersing hose 64. The T fitting is adapted to be closed by a cap 65when not in use. A T fitting 66 is mounted in the inlet Si) of the tankto mount a pair'of valves 'itl and 71 which are connected to theconduits 61 and 62 respecf tively for controlling the ow of liquidsolvent in and out of the tank. A T fitting 73 is mounted in the outlcconduit 62 of the pump and may be alternately closed by the cap 65 orconnected to the hose 6d depending on whether the pump is deliveringliquid to or from the tank. The pump 60 further provides a forwardlyextended drive shaft 75 Von which is mounted a pulley 76 which is drivenin a manner presently to be described.

A pair of spaced forward and rearward frusto-conical tubular housingmembers and 81, respectively, are adapted to be rigidly mounted incoaxial longitudinally extended relation in the tank adjacent to thebottom wail 36. As best shown in FIG. 7, each of the tubular housingsprovides a substantially `cylindrical wall 83 having an inner end 84 anda somewhat reduced diameter outer opposite end 85. A longitudinallyextended slot S6 is provided in the housing in tapering relation fromthe inner end 84 toward the outer end 35. The outer end includes a pairof opposite transversely spaced semi-circular notches 87. The outer ends85 of the housings are mounted in suitable brackets 59 secured, as bywelding or the like, to their respective forward and rearward end wallsof thev tank in spaced relation to the bottom wall 36 of the tank. Theinner ends of the housings are supported adjacent to the bottom wall ofthe tank by a pair of arcuate saddles rigidly mounted on the bottom wallby a plurality of bolts 91. The saddles also maintain the desiredseparation of the housings from the bottom wall of the tank and therebydispose the slot 86 downwardly so as to open adjacent to the bottom wallwithin the sediment collecting area 38.

An elongated shaft has forward and rearward end portions 96 and 97journaled in bearings 93 and 99 respectively mounted in the forward andrearward end walls 33e-34 of the tank adjacent to the bottom wall 35thereof concentrically aligned with the tubular housings Si) and 81.More specifically, the shaft extends longitudinally of the tank inspaced susbtantially parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of thetank and relatively adjacent to the bottom wall thereof. The shaft isseparably fastened intermediate its ends by a drive coupling 169. Therearward bearing 99 is of the closed type whereas the bearing 9d in theforward wall of the tank includes a packing gland 1M to prevent leakagefrom the tank.

Forward and rearward sets of spiral screw type impellers 102 and 1193each include hub portions 164 which are rigidly mounted on the shaft 95to provide blades 195 helically wound aboutl the hubs. The hubs andimpellers inwardly terminate adjacent to the inner ends of theirrespective tubular housings Sii and S1 to denne a material receivingarea 105 therebetween. The pitch of the blades of the opposite screwimpellers 102 and 1633 is oppositely wound so that upon rotation of theshaft in a predetermined direction the impellers force water in the tankaxially outwardly from the receiving area toward their respective endwalls. Such action creates a low pressure in the receiving areaand arelatively higher pressure adjacent to the arcuate notches 87 of thehousings. 0f course, the pressure is progressively greater from thecentral low pressure area outwardly to said high pressure areas. Suchhigh pressure is also adapted to be dispelled through the Y the yframe10.

tapered slot Sd in the housings to provide a sweeping action against thebottom wall 36 of the tank.

An engine 19S is mounted on the forward end portion 11 of the frame iiiadjacent to the kpump ed and includes a drive pulley 169 in transverselyco-planar relation with the pulley 76 on the pump. An idler pulley 11)is adjustably mounted on a bracket 111 upwardly extended from the tongue17 of the frame 10 in co-planar relation with the engine pulley and thepump pulley to tighten the iower run of a Vbelt 112 trained thereabout.The engine also provides a drive shaft coaxially rearwardly extendedtherefrom whichis adapted to be connected to the screw shaft 95 by areleasable coupling 115 whereby upon energization of the engine theshaft 95 and the pulley it?? are rotated in'said predetermineddirection.

A material loading hopper 124i is disposed immediately forwardly andupwardly adjacent to the pump titl andengine 1%, as best shown in FG. 4.The hopper provides a forward wall 121 and a pair ofopposite upwardlyrearwardly diverging side walls 123 which define a substanially V-shapedupper opening 124. The hopper is adapted to receive and to constrain aquantity of dry material such as sulfur, lime, or other solid solutes tobeintroduced into the tank 3d. The upper opening 124 is adapted to beclosed by a hinged cover 125 which provides an upper surface 126, whenclosed, to which is hingedly connected a support arm 127.

The hopper `is adapted to be supported on a tubular conveyor housinghaving a lower end 132 forming the bottom of the hopper and an oppositeupper end 134 slidably positioned within the tubular'material inlethousing 55. A material receiving opening 135 is formed in the lower endof the conveyor housing closely adjacent to the forward wall 121withinthe hopper. The opening is adjustably controlled by a sliding panelv136mounted upon the conveyor housing within the hopper. The panel providesan upwardly extended control rod 137 having an upwardly bent end 13Swhich is adjustably constrained against gravitational descent to closethe opening 135 by way of the free end of a constraining chain 139, theupper end of which is rigidly secured to the conveyor housing 13d.

An elongated screw conveyor having a continuous helically wound blade141 is supported `on a longitudinally extended shaft 142 disposedconcentrically within the material conveyor housing 13). The shaft ismounted for rotation therein on suitable bearings 143 and 144 at theupper and lower ends of the conveyor housing. As best shown in FiG. 5,the lower end of the conveyor housing provides an upwardly extendediiange 1455 which is adapted to receive the lower end of the support arm127 to support the cover 125-in the open position, as shown. The flangeincludes a foot portion 146 mounted on a tubular support member 147 asby bolting or the like. The tubular supporttmember is rigidly mountedpreferably as by welding to a pair of spaced arms iti-3 transverselyoutwardly extended from the tongueV 17 of The lower end ofthe screwshaft 142 mounts a bevel pinion gear Vi) which is adapted to mate with asimilar bevel pinion gear 152 which is rigidly mounted on an elongateddrive shaft 153 journaled in the tubular support member 147. Therearward end of the drive shaft 153 mounts a pulley 155 in co-planarrelation tothe engine drive pulley 169. The V-belt 112 is therebyadapted to be removable from the pump pulley 67 in order to be trainedabout the conveyor drive pulley 155. in this manner, when. the engine isruiming, the screw conveyor 14) is motivatedfor carrying the drymaterial upwardly from the hopper for discharging the same into thewater in the tank for descent into the material receiving area 105between the mixing impellers 162 and 193.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the sub# jectinvention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarizedat this point. The portable mixing tank of the present invention isreadily adaptedto be drawn into a field which it is desired to conditionor fertilize with the calcium polysulfide manufactured therein. The gaspipe 43 is connected to a portable source, not shown, of fuel oil orgas. ln order to begin the manufacture of calcium polysullide, thesupply hose 64 is coupled with the T fitting 63 in the inlet conduit d1of the pump 60, the valve 71 is closed, the valve. l0 1s opened, and thefree end of the hose is immersed 1n irrigation water or other watersource. The V-belt 112 1S trained about the pump pulley 76, the idlerpulley 110 and the engine drive pulley 109 so that with energization ofthe engine 108 the pump dii is effective to deliver water into the tankby way of the inlet conduits 61 and 50. Assuming the tank has a capacityof 1,100 gallons, and it is desired to make from 500 to 600 gallons ofcalcium polysulfide, approximately 500 to 600 gallons of water arepumped into the lower port-ion 35 of the tank. One-half gallon of asuitable wetting agent, such as detergent 1n association with a whitepine oil, is added to the water through the upper opening 45.

The burner nozzle 4Z is then ignited to heat the chamber 40 and thus thewater within the tank to a temperature of at least about 180 F. With theengine 168 running to drive the pump, the screw shaft 95 is concurrentlyrotated to drive the mixing impellers 102 and 103 so as to agitate andpropel the water within the tank from the receiving area 106 outwardlytherefrom through the tubular housings di) and 81 and through the slots86 therein along the bottom wall 36 of the tank. While the speed ofrotation of the screw shaft 95 depends on various factors, under theassumed conditions set forth above and in commercial embodiments of thesubject invention, it is rotated at a speed of at least about 400revolutions a minute. In this regard, it is to be noted that thedescribed commercial embodiment of the subject invention provides ascrew shaft having a one inch diameter, impellers having individualconvolutions of 18 inches in diameter and a tank which is approximatelyfour feet in diameter by eleven feet long.

In order to energize the material conveyor 140, the V-belt 112 isremoved from the pump pulley 76 and is trained about the conveyor drivepulley 155 to rotate the conveyor screw 145 by way of the beveled piniongears 150 and 152. While maintaining the temperature of the water atabout 180 F., dry sulfur is dumped into the hopper 120 and is deliveredinto the tank 30 by the screw conveyor 140 at a rate to prevent boilingand consequent foaming of the liquid. While this rate depends on thewater conditions and the outside temperature, it has been found that inthe commercial practice, a rate of approximately 100 pounds of sulfurevery three minutes is eX- cellently suited to the purpose. Preferably,200 mesh sulfur is employed. Although 20 mesh sulfur can be utilized,the residue remaining is greater than when 200 mesh sulfur is used.However, it is also to be noted that even 325 mesh sulfur has beenemployed with success. The sulfur is motivated by the conveyor outwardlyof the open upward end thereof to descend into the material receivingarea 196 in the water intermediate the mixing impellers 102 and 103. Thesulfur is immediately divided and driven axially forwardly andrearwardly through the tubular high pressure housings Si) and 81 andoutwardly through the arcuate notches 87 adjacent to the forward andrearward end walls 33 and 34, respectively of the tank. It is to benoted that while the impellers are at rest the water in the area 105would have a predetermined static head at a given depth and such headwould constitute a standard pressure. During rotation of the impellerswithin their respective tubular housings, the water in the area of thearcuate notches 87 is at a relatively higher pressure. Conversely, thewater at the receiving area 105 is at a relatively lower pressure. The

increased pressure of the water within the tubular housings drives thewater into the pores of the sulfur thereby facilitating and effectingdissolution of the sulfur into the Water as it is recirculated throughthe arcuate notches 87 back to the receiving area 106 between theimpellers. it is also to be noted that the wetting agent enables thesulfur to go into solution more rapidly. However, primary dissolvingaction is effected by the propelling action described. Additionally, thepressure created in the tubular housings and S1 also prevents the sulfurfrom settling to the bottom of the tank and adhering thereto. Thetapered slots Se within the tubular housings direct a portion of theiluid therein downwardly therethrough along the bottom of the tankcontinually to stir sediment and propel the same upwardly into thewater.

After all of the sulfur has been thoroughly wet, approximately 90 poundsof dry lime per hundred gallons of water are dumped into the hopper 126which is motivated into the tank by the conveyor screw 1.4i) atapproximately the same rate as the sulfur. The lime also falls into thematerial receiving area 10d and is circulated with the water and thesulfur and is quickly driven into the solution in the same manner asdescribed above for the sulfur. The burner nozzle 42 is turned olf whenthe temperature of the liquid reaches approximately 200 F. to preventboiling and foaming of the liquid. The liquid is continuously agitatedby the impellers 102 and 103 until substantially `all the sulfur andlime have gone into solution. lt is to be noted that prior todissolution of all of the dry materials, a crust forms on the top of theliquid. Within a period of about five minutes after the burner is turnedolf, the crust or foam drops whereupon substantially all ofthe drymaterials pass into solution. If the agitation is continued for severalminutes longer, even more of the material goes into solution and thesolution clarilies into a relatively clear red or wine color.

To dispense the calcium polysulde, the engine 1% is stopped in order topermit the changing of the V-belt 112 from the conveyor drive pulley 155to the pump pulley '76. The valves 70 and 71 are respectively closed andopened and the supply hose 64 connected to the outlet conduit 62. of thepump by way of the T fitting '73. The closure cap da previouslypositioned thereon is interchanged with the hose to close the T fitting63 in the inlet conduit 61 of the pump. The engine 108 is againenergized to drive the pump which provides a suction force through theinlet conduit 50 to motivate the calcium polysulde through the pump andoutwardly of the hose ed for delivery to the soil to be fertilized. Inthis regard, it is also noted that the wetting agent initially added tothe water still retains its function of spreading the calciumpolysuliide more quickly in the water and over the soil being treated.While approximately percent of the sulfur and lime utilized is dissolvedin the water, there is a minimum amount of residue in the bottom of thetank which does not go into solution. This residue can be flushed fromthe tank through the drainage duct 52 by removing the cap 53 therefrom.

From the foregoing, it is clearly evident that the structure of thepresent invention provides improved dissolution of the dry sulfur andlime materials used in the production of calcium polysulide. lt issignificant that the water is driven or forced under pressure into thepores of the suln fur and lime thereby to facilitate their dissolutioninto the waterin a minimum of time. Such pressure is further utilized tojet fluid against the bottom of the tank through the slots to preventthe Settling of the sulfur and lime which, if not recirculated, is aptto adhere and build up on the inner surfaces of the tank to restrictfurther circulation. inasmuch as the mixing tank is portable, thefertilizing product can be manufactured by a rancher at the site of itsuse. This enables utilizations of the ranchers own irrigation Water andavoids the problems of storage and enables immediate use of the liquidfertilizer before the dissolved materials therein have an opportunity tocrystal- Vlize out of solution. This obviates cleaning of the tankoutlet and the other expenses and inconveniences associated therewith.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A mixing mechanism for manufacturing solutions of a solid solutecomprising: a tank having a semi-cyclindrical bottom wall; means forintroducing water and solid solute into the tank; a pair of spacedaxially aligned tubular housings rigidly mounted in the tank in spacedrelation closely adjacent to the bottom wall, each housing havingoppositely opening ends and a longitudinally tapering slot thereinadjacent to and directed toward the bottom wall; a shaft journaledlongitudinally in the tank .concentrically of the housings; a pair oflongitudinally spaced helical screw impellers mounted on'said shaftindividually within said housingsr with the impellers being of oppositepitch; power means having driving connection to the shaft for rotatingsaid impellers within their respective housings to force liquid throughsaid slots in sweeping relation against said bottom wall to stirmaterial tending to settle in the liquid; and means for releasing the,aqueous solution from the tank.

2. An apparatus for producing aqueous solutions of a solid solutecomprising, a tank having a substantially semicylindrical bottom wall,means for delivering water and solid solute to the tank; an auxiliaryhousing mounted externally on the bottom wall of the tank dening a heatchamber thereagainst; a pair of axially aligned substantiallycylindrical housings mounted in spaced axially aligned relation in thetank adjacent to the bottom wall thereof, each of said housings havinglongitudinally spaced inner and outer ends and downwardly disposedlongitudinally tapered slots disposed in spaced relation adjacent tosaid bottom wall of the tank and adjacent to said heat chamber; a shaftjournaled longitudinally in the tank concentrically of the housings; ahelical screw impeller mounted on said shaft within each of thehousings; power means externally of the tank having driving connectionto the shaft; the impellers being of opposite pitch so that uponrotation uid is pumped oppositely through said housings at sucientpressure to force a portion of the fluid downwardly through the slotsand against the bottom of the tank for heat and sediment distributingpurposes; and means for releasing the aqueous solution from the tank.

3. An apparatus for producing an aqueous calcium polysulfide comprisinga tank having a substantially semicylindrical bottom wall; meansmounting the tank disposing the bottom wall in substantially horizontalposition; means for delivering Water, sulfur and lime to the tank; anauxiliary housing mounted externally on the bottom wall of the tankdeiining a heat chamber thereagainst; means for supplying heat to thechamber; a pair of axially aligned substantially cylindrical housingsmounted longitudinally in the tank adjacent to the bottom wall thereof,said housings having spaced inner ends and outer ends providingdischarge openings, each of said housings having a longitudinal slot ofsubstantially uniformly decreasing Width from its inner end to its outerend and disposed in spaced relation closely adjacent to said bottom wallof the tank; a shaft journaled longitudinally in the tank concentricallyof the housings; a helical screw impeller mounted on `said shaft withineach of the housings; powered means externally of the tank havingdriving connection to the shaft, the impellers being of opposite pitchso that upon shaft rotation iluid is pumped from the spaced inner endsof the housings oppositely longitudinally out the outer ends thereofunder S v su'icient pressure to force a portion of the fluid downwardlyagainst the bottom of the tank for heat and sediment distributionpurposes; and means for discharging fluid contents of the tank.

4. An apparatus for producing aqueous calcium polysulfide comprising atank having a substantially semicylindrical bottom wall; means mountingthe tank, disposing tl e bottom wall in substantially horizontalposition; means for introducing water, sulfur and lime into the tank; anauxiliary housing mounted externally on the bottom wall of the tankdefining a heat chamber thereagainst; a burner extended through anvopening in said auxiliary housing for supplying heat to the chamber; apair of axially aligned substantially cylindrical housings mountedlongitudinally in the ytank in spaced relation adjacent to the bottomwall thereof, said housings having spaced inner inlet ends and outerdischarge ends, each of said housings having a longitudinal slot ofsubstantially uniformly decreasing width from the inner end to the outerend of the housing and disposed in spaced relation closely adjacent tothe bottom wall of the tank; a shaft journaled in the tankconcentrically of the housings; a helical screw impeller mounted on saidshaft within each of the housings; power means externally of the tankhaving driving connection to the shaft, the impellers being of oppositepitch so that upon rotation fluid is pumped from the spaced inner endsof the housings oppositely longitudinally through'the outer dischargeendsrthereof under suticient pressure to force a portion of the fluiddownwardly against the bottom of the tank for heat and sedimentdistributing purposes; and means for discharging uid contents of thetank.

5. A portable mixingV mechanism for manufacturing aqueous calciumpolysulde solution from dry sulfur and lime materials comprising anelongated mobile frame having opposite forward .and rearward ends; anelongated tank having a substantially cylindrical side wallconcentrically circumscribin an axis for the tank and opposite forwardand rearward end walls, the tank .also having a lower semi-cylindricalbottom wall adapted to contain Water; and an upper semi-cylindrical topwall upwardly extended therefrom, said top wall providing an upperopening into the tank spaced substantially equidistantly between saidend walls; means borne by said forward end of the frame for introducingvwater into said tank; an elongated impeller shaft having opposite endportions journaled in said opposite end walls of the tank and extendedin longitudinally parallel relation below the axis of the tank, andlocated in an upright plane substantially coincident with the axis ofthe tank; a shell disposed externally about the bottom and the end wallsof the tank defining a chamber therebetween; la burner extended intosaid chamber through an opening in said rearward end wall of the tankfor `heating said chamber and such materials therein; powered meansmountedV on said forward end of the frame having driving connection tothe shaft; a pair of sets of screw impellers respectively mounted lonopposite end portions of the shaft havingv inner ends spaced from eachother to provide a'material receiving area therebetween and below thedischarge end of the material conveyor, the impellersV onteach portionof the shaft having oppositely pitched helically disposed blades so thatthe impellers force Water axially outwardly from said receiving areatoward their respective end walls of the tankga rpair of coaxiallongitudinally spaced tubular frusto-conical housings individuallyhaving opposite inner and outer open ends and a slot of substantiallyuniformly decreasing width longitudinally extended from the inner end tothe outer end of the housing, said housings being individuallyconcentrically disposed about said sets of impellers, and rigidlymounted inthe tank With said slots disposed in spaced relation closelyadjacent to said bottom wall of the tank; a crew conveyor having a drymaterial receiving end mounted on said forward end of the frame andangularly upwardly extended therefrom through the forward end wall ofthe tank to terminate in an upper dry material discharge end within thetank; a hopper mounted on said forward end of the frame opening intosaid lower end of the conveyor for constraining and feeding materialinto the conveyor for delivery to the tank whereby such materialgravitates into said receiving area, is divided by the oppositelypitched impellers, and is circulated with the water through said tubularhousings with the slots permitting a por-tion of the water and materialto sweep against said lower wall portion of the tank to minimizesettling'of the material thereon, and means for releasing the aqueouscalcium polysuliide solution from the'tank.

6. An apparatus for producing a solution of a solid solute in a liquidsolvent comprising a tank having a bottom wall providing contiguousoppositely inclined portions which downwardly converge to an elongatedsubstantially horizontal area of sediment collection, means foradmitting liquid solvent and solid solute to the tank, the solutetending to settle to the area of collection until dissolved in thesolvent, an elongated tubular frustoconical housing mounted in the tankabove said area of collection longitudinally thereof and adjacentthereto, said housing having open opposite ends of different diametersand an elongated slot extended longitudinally o the housing disposeddownwardly toward the area of collection, a power driven impellermounted in the housing adapted to force the solvent, solvent bornesolute and solution therethrough from the larger end to the smaller endat a velocity sufcient to cause an increase in pressure in the housingsuicient to project the same downwardly through the slot against thebottom wall of the tank along the area of collection, and means forreleasing the solution from the tank.

7. An apparatus for producing a `solution of a solid solute in a liquidsolvent comprising 'a tank having a bottom wall providing contiguousoppositely inclined portions which downwardly converge to an elongatedsubstantially horizontal area of sediment collection, means foradmitting liquid solvent and solid solute to the tank, the solutetending to settle to the area of collection until dissolved in thesolvent, means for heating the tank along said area of sedimentcollection, an elongated tubular frusto-conical housing mounted in thetank above said area of collection longitudinally thereof .and adjacentthereto, said housing having open opposite ends of different diametersand an elongated slot extended longitudinally of the housing disposeddownwardly toward the area of collection, a power driven impeller'mounted in the housing adapted to force the solvent, solvent bornesolute and solution therethrough from the larger end to the smaller endat a velocity sutcient to cause an increase in pressure in the housingsuicient to project the same downwardly through the slot against thebottom wall of the tank along the area of collection to stir solutewhich settles in such area to minimize heat deterioration thereof and toenhance dissolving thereof in the solvent, and means for releasing thesolution from the tank.

8. An apparatus for producing aqueous solutions of a solid solutecomprising a tank having a substantially horizontal semi-cylindricalbottom wall, means for admitting water and solid solute to the tank,said solute tending to settle to the lowest part of the bottom wall ofthe tank, .an elongated tubular frusto-conical housing mounted in thetank adjacent to the semi-cylindrical bottom wall thereof, said housinghaving open opposite ends of different capacities and an elongated slotextended longitudinally of the Ihousing disposed downwardly toward thesemi-cylindrical bottom wall, a power driven impeller mounted in thehousing adapted to force liquid therethrough from the end of largercapacity toward the end of smaller capacity at a velocity suicient tocause an increase in pressure in the housing sufficient to projectliquid downwardly through the slot against the bottom wall of the tank,and means for releasing the aqueous solution from the tank.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,517,522 l`2/ 24Volck 23--138 2,760,820 8/ 5 6 Cirese 23-272.7

FOREIGN PATENTS 564,708 10/44 Great Britain.

MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner. JAMES H. TAYMAN, JR., Examiner.

1. A MIXING MECHANISM FOR MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS OF A SOLID SOLUTECOMPRISING: A TANK HAVING A SEMI-CYCLINDRICAL BOTTOM WALL; MEANS FORINTRODUCING WATER AND SOLID SOLUTE INTO THE TANK; A PAIR OF SPACEDAXIALLY ALIGNED TUBULAR HOUSING RIGIDY MOUNTED IN THE TANK IN SPACEDRELATION CLOSELY ADJACENT TO THE BOTTOM WALL, EACH HOUSING HAVINGOPPOSITELY OPENING ENDS AND A LONGITUDINALLY TAPERING SLOT THEREINADJACENT TO AND DIRECTED TOWARD THE BOTTOM WALL; A SHAFT JOURNALEDLONGITUDINALLY IN THE TANK CONCENTRICALLY OF THE HOUSINGS; A PAIR OFLONGITUDINALLY SPACED HELICAL SCREW IMPELLERS MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFTINDIVIDUALLY WITHIN SAID HOUSINGS WITH THE IMPELLERS BEING OF OPPOSITEPITCH; POWER MEANS HAVING DRIVING CONNECTION TO THE SHAFT FOR ROTATINGSAID IMPELLERS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOUSINGS TO FORCE LIQUID THROUGHSAID SLOTS IN SWEEPING RELATION AGAINST SAID BOTTOM WALL TO STIRMATERIAL TENDING TO SETTLE IN THE LIQUID; AND MEANS FOR RELEASING THEAQUEOUS SOLUTION FROM THE TANK.